242: What 1,000 Pet Businesses Taught Us About Growth (With Matt Aldrich)

242: What 1,000 Pet Businesses Taught Us About Growth (With Matt Aldrich)

Author: Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation® June 28, 2026 Duration: 40:09
Matt Aldrich, founder of Pet Engine Marketing, has a front row seat to pet businesses and their patterns - the ones growing and the ones stuck.  Between Pet Boss Nation and Pet Engine Marketing, they've seen 1,000+ pet businesses over the years. In this candid conversation, he and Candace talk about what growth actually looks like when the economy is tough, competition is everywhere, and business owners are burned out. They discuss:  ✅ The pattern most pet businesses get wrong (and why you're probably doing it) ✅ Why activity ≠ progress (and how to tell the difference) ✅ The $6,000 email campaign that worked (and why you should steal it!)  ✅ How to build "boring" systems that compound over time Plus Matt shares the one thing all successful businesses have in common and how you could do it too!   ABOUT MATT ALDRICH Founder, Pet Engine Marketing & Co-Founder, Pet Industry Network Matt Aldrich is the founder of Pet Engine Marketing and a pet industry marketing expert with 12+ years of experience helping independent pet businesses grow. He's also a Co-Founder of the Pet Industry Network, a PETS+ Magazine contributor, an active member of American Pet Professionals, and a frequent speaker at events including Global Pet Expo, SUPERZOO, and The Pet Summit. Matt's journey started at 16 working at a local pet store in Ann Arbor, Michigan - a job he took because his dog loved that place, and soon so did he. He fell in love with helping customers, meeting their pets, and working alongside people who "got it." But when he moved into management, the job got buried under vendor calls, staff schedules, and the daily grind. That experience—realizing pet business owners started in this industry because they loved helping people and pets, not working on spreadsheets and social media - became his mission. In 2018, he launched Pet Engine Marketing to help pet business owners get back to doing what they love, while the agency handles the marketing.Transcript Show Notes Join Us Online Find us on Facebook Join our Free Pet Industry Facebook Group Follow us on Instagram Read our Blog

Running a local pet business is a unique blend of passion and hard-nosed strategy, and the Pet Boss® Podcast with Candace speaks directly to that reality. Hosted by Candace D'Agnolo of Pet Boss Nation®, these conversations move beyond generic advice to tackle the actual challenges faced by shop owners and service providers on Main Street. You'll hear from fellow pet supply store operators, groomers, dog daycare managers, trainers, and sitters who are navigating the same daily realities you are. The discussions blend foundational business principles with actionable secrets that are proving effective right now, all within the specific context of the animal care industry. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about what works when the bell on your door jingles and a client walks in with their pup. Each episode aims to provide honest, peer-driven insights because, as any pet professional knows, a dog business is indeed big business. Tune in for a candid look at building resilience and success from the ground up, designed specifically for the dedicated local entrepreneur in the vibrant world of pets.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pet Boss® Podcast with Candace
Podcast Episodes
253: Our 1.6M View Reel: Swipe this Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
Many of our videos get hundreds, maybe a few thousand views. This one got 1.6 million. 🎉 It was a video of a filthy self-wash tub getting rinsed out. That is it. A German shepherd had just been bathed on opening weekend,…
250: 16 Winners Revealed: The Pet Boss Trade Show Awards SUPERZOO 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:10
It is a double celebration on the Pet Boss Podcast this week! Episode 250 of the Pet Boss Podcast is also the debut of the Pet Boss Trade Show Awards. 🎉🎉🎉 Candace and Morgan are back from SUPERZOO 2026 in Las Vegas with…
245: SEO is Changing. Meet AEO and Why Your Pet Business Should Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:55
The way your customers search has changed. Not gradually. Dramatically. And most indie pet businesses haven't noticed yet. A year ago, if someone's dog had itchy skin, they'd Google "best dog food for itchy skin" and scr…